Utilitarianism Vs. Kant s Deontology - 2126 Words

Consequence and Principles: Utilitarianism vs. Kant s Deontology Both utilitarianism and deontology are normative ethical theories. Normative ethics is a branch of philosophical ethics that investigates the set of questions that arise when considering how one should morally act. (Meriam Webster Dictionary, 1) Utilitarianism and deontology have often been discussed throughout the history of ethics, and both have had many adaptations of the concepts. Utilitarianism is defined as a doctrine that the useful is the good and that the determining consideration of right conduct should be the usefulness of its consequences. (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2) Deontology is defined as the study of one’s moral obligation. (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 3) Utilitarianism is thought to be one of the most powerful and persuasive consequentialist approaches to normative ethics. (Plamenatz, 1) Consequentialism is defined as the theory that the value and especially the moral value of an act should be judged by the value of its consequences. (Merriam Webster Dictionary, 4) Utilitarianism was created by Jeremy Bentham in a book published, in the year 1789, titled An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. The book defined the principle of utility, which led to the formation of the utilitarian theory. Jeremy Bentham was born in London, England in 1748. He was an English philosopher, economist, and theoretical jurist from 1763 to 1832. (Plamenatz, 2) Bentham’s utilitarian theoryShow MoreRelatedKant And Mill On Animal Ethics Essay1365 Words   |  6 PagesIn this essay I will begin by explaining the overall views of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill, then compare and contrast the ideas and philosophies of Kant and Mill on Animal Ethics. I believe that Kant, the deontologist, will not care as much about the duty/responsibility between humans and animals as Mill, the utilitarian, who will see the extreme importance of animal ethics. After studying and explaining the views and teachings of these two philosophers I will see if my thesis was correct,Read MoreThe Ethics Of The Death Of A Fetus1505 Words   |  7 Pagessame way, utilitarianism equates wrongness or blameworthiness of an action with its resultant pain or unhappiness. The central principle of utilitarianism expresses the belief that actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. Since utilitarianism differentiates ethical and unethical actions on the basis of the outcomes of those actions, it falls into the consequentialist class. With this belief, utilitarianism challengedRead MoreDr. Ethos, The Chief Resident Of A Hospital1591 Words   |  7 PagesHowever, the cranky old man would have to die, or rather be killed, in order to successfully treat all the patients. The question is, what would Dr. Ethos do, if he were Utilitarian (Act vs. Rule)? What would Dr. Ethos do, if he were a Deontologist (Kantian)? Utilitarianism John S. Mill describes Utilitarianism, also known as â€Å"The greatest happiness principle†, as a philosophical theory of morality. This theory focuses on the end result, rather than the motive behind it, which makes it a consequentialRead MoreA Review of Ethics Concepts Theories2669 Words   |  11 PagesTheories Educational Objectives: 1. Explain the type of problem that is addressed by philosophers. 2. Explain how ethical norms help address ethical issues that arise in accountancy. 3. Contrast the views of Mills, Machiavelli and Kant. 4. Describe what is meant by a social contract. 5. Analyze a given situation and tell why it would be appropriate or inappropriate to lie. 6. Explain the views of Kierkegaard and contrast him from other existentialists. 7.Read MoreThe Ethics Of Corporate Social Responsibility2955 Words   |  12 PagesNIKE brand s crisis. Body â€Å"Business ethics are implemented in order to ensure that a certain required level of trust exists between consumers and various forms of market participants with businesses.† In the profit-making organizations to pursue their own interests, must comply with the principles of justice. From Kant s deontology point of view, this is should be the whole duty the enterprise. From the point of view of Utilitarianism of Consequentialism, in order to promote the public s interestsRead MoreTorts study notes Essay17110 Words   |  69 Pagestwo articles were almost entirely lacking in formal philosophical references.12 By contrast, more recent corrective justice scholars have delved deeply into Aristotle and likewise have offered extensive interpretations of moral philosophers such as Kant and Hegel.13 Furthermore, many of these scholars claim that a corrective justice approach does an excellent job in explaining the key features of the tort system.14    But of course the corrective justice literature has not been the only modern scholarly